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Book: Classic Game Programming on the NES

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Make your own retro video game

Our good friend from Tassie and absolute coding guru, Tony Cruise, has an awesome book for you retro gamers wanting to code your own 8-Bit NES video games! Oh yeah, Tony has also supplied a 35% off discount code for this amazing tome!



 

Arcade Cabinets Chiseled from Marble That Michaelangelo Would Be Proud Of

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Michaelangelo’s David VS Harow’s Arcadia!

With engineered stone becoming illegal (it’s about time!) in Australia, we are glad to see that marble is (potentially) still being used in a variety of new ways!

These arcade machines chiseled out of marble give Michaelangelo’s David sculpture a run for its money – they are absolute masterpieces!

Before we get ahead ourselves we have to come clean, these are AI renders, however for a cool US$100,000, artist Harold Sangouard (aka Harow) can chisel you a custom-made arcade cabinet from Calacatta marble.

We definitely don’t need marble in the kitchen, but our Fun Factory can do with a marble arcade machine sculpture 😉

image source: Arcadia – Harow



GameGuide – Atari Lynx: The Perfect Lynx Companion

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Just in time for Chrissy 2023, Zafinn Books’ GameGuide – Atari Lynx arrives in the Ausretrogamer Fun Factory!

We weren’t expecting this book for another couple of weeks, so for it to turn up well ahead of schedule, and all the way from Ireland, was a welcome surprise.

If you aren’t familiar with Zafinn Books, it is a one man (Karl Morris), self-publishing  house, with a great selection of limited edition books, just like this GameGuide for the Atari Lynx. The addition of some very cool stickers (sticking it up the Game Boy!) was another surprise and was totally unexpected.

Can’t wait to flick through this while enjoying the festive season.



8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard – The Perfect Xmas Gift for the Retro (and Modern) Gamer!

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The perfect Xmas gift doesn’t ex…….. Oh wait!

Ah 8BitDo, they sure know how to tug on our nostalgic heartstrings!

8BitDo have hit the nostalgic sweet-spot for us retro gamers with their new 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard, which modern gamers can also enjoy as it’s Bluetooth/2.4G/USB-C enabled, with 87 keys, dual super programmable buttons that can be used on Windows and/or Android devices!

Just look at the kitsch retro (Nintendo 8-bit) aesthetic of this beauty – we just can’t get enough of it! We really need one on our desk, so we are hoping Santa delivers this Christmas for us!

Who else is getting one?

Specs:

  • Compatible with Windows 10(1903) or above, and Android 9.0 or above;
  • Connnect via Bluetooth, wireless 2.4G, or wired;
  • 87-key layout. Kailh Box Switch V2 White. Dye-sub PBT keycaps;
  • Top mount style. Hot-swappable PCB. Support n-key rollover;
  • Dual Super Buttons – offer large, programmable keys. Map anything to the Super Buttons instantly without using software;
  • Classic power status LED, with independent control panel;
  • Supports 8BitDo Ultimate Software V2 for custom keyboard mapping.
  • Price: $179.95 via Amazon AU

image source: Amazon AU



Killer Instinct on Steam Is Free – Get It Now

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Wanna kick to the head, for free?!

The legendary fighting franchise with over-the-top action, a wild cast of combatants, rocking reactive music, and C-C-C-COMBO BREAKERS is now free to play on Steam!!!

If you are an existing paid owner of the Killer Instinct (2012) game, you’ll be automatically upgraded to the Anniversary Edition (which is A$39.95).

Go on, what are you waiting for – go and break out some killer combos!!

image source: Steam



The 2023 Christmas Gift Guide

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Can you believe that another Christmas is upon us! The stress of finding gifts for friends, family and most importantly, for yourself, is heightened around this time of year.

We thought we’d help alleviate the stress of finding Christmas gifts by curating a list of items that would be suitable for any of our audience, be it a gamer, pinball wizard or a general pop-culture geek, there is something for everyone.

First cab off the rank, the quintessential 80’s Boombox, but this is no ordinary boombox, it has a CD Player, Cassette Deck, FM & DAB+ Radio, USB and can act as a wireless Bluetooth speaker! At $299.95 (at Amazon AU), it’s not cheap, but hey, when it comes to playing your fave 80’s tunes, this player will make you feel like you are back in the best decade of all time!

 

While you are on the Amazon AU site, you might as well check out the Atari 2600+ console ($179) – which let’s you play your old Atari gaming cartridges! If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, how about the Arcade1Up Atari Couchcade ($285.14)?

If you are like us, then you probably have a myriad of devices that require microSD cards, so why not go big with the Samsung 512GB EVO Plus Micro SD Memory Card/w Adapter at just $39 (usually $99)! Your Nintendo Switch and/or Steam Deck will thank you!

If you really want to splash out and are a Zelda fan, then the 1TB SanDisk microSD hits the sweet spot at $177!

We got bitten by the Drive to Survive bug and are now (almost) obsessed with F1 racing. Naturally, when you put F1 together with Lego-like construction, then we take note! This WINNER SPACE Remote Control Formula 1 Racing Car Building Blocks Set (1:12 Scale RC Building Kit) is an absolute bargain (currently) at $52.90. With 729 pieces in the kit, this is the perfect STEM toy for kids aged 6+ (and adults of course)! If you [prefer your F1 car to be red, then go here 😉

Being IKEA lovers, there is always a reasonably priced practical item on offer. We absolutely love our Elloven (Anthracite) monitor stand with drawer. It has freed up our desk and tucked away all the clutter we used to have around us. At $39 from Ikea, the Elloven is a tad easier on the Xmas gift budget.

If you (or a friend or family member) are into board games, then there is no shortage of awesome board games for all ages, even the little ones! These are some of our faves, which are quite fun – perfect to unwind with good company after a hearty Xmas meal!

Or favourite Australian gaming culture specialists and purveyors of rare, high-quality video game memorabilia and collectables store, PixelCrib isn’t short on cool stuff, from books, artworks, vinyls to hard to find video games and gaming systems.

If you are into gaming related books or vinyl soundtracks, then you are in the right place – PixelCrib rocks some awesome products. If you are into retro gaming systems that play physical carts, then we reckon you should check out the Evercade VS, with the Starter Pack coming in at just under $170 with console, controller and the Technos Arcade Cartridge to get you started with some sweet retro gaming goodness this Christmas.

For those of you that prefer retro gaming on the go by using inbuilt games or your Evercade carts, then the Super Pocket TAITO handheld  ($109.99) is for you!

Do you like to support independent authors and publishers? Do you like indie created guide books full with Atari retro goodness? If you answered yes to either or both of these questions, then you must check out Zafinn Books! This indie publisher has a number of gaming guides, but the one we got (that we reckon is pretty darn cool) is the Atari Lynx GameGuide book (~$96.00).

For those hard to find or exclusive gaming items, you can’t go past Play-Asia! Their gaming exclsuives are pretty darn good and reasonably priced, like the exclusive Startup Company (Switch) Limited Edition bundle $70.00.

For the SEGA Dreamcast fanatics, perhaps some recently published DC games will warm their 128-bit cockles, like PixelHeart’s fighter Tough Guy ($73.55) and/or vertical shmup Wolflame ($70.05).

Surely everyone knows someone who is a Star Wars fan? Maybe you are a SW fan – if you are (or someone you know is), then these Star Wars related gifts are what you have been looking for!

LEGO® Star Wars™ Emperor’s Throne Room™ Diorama 75352 Building Set for Adults ($124.07)

The Star Wars Archives. 1977-1983: 40th Anniversary Edition ($49.99) is the ultimate coffee-table book for fans of the original trilogy.
For those of you into pinball or know someone mad about the silverball game, then the From Pinballs to Pixels: An Arcade History of Williams-Bally-Midway book ($102.17) by Ken Horowitz will be right up their alley!

In the 80s, there was nothing better than watching the anime TV show, Astro Boy on ABC during our school holidays. The manga to anime transition is nigh-on perfect, with the hero for all ages ensuring that you all get to (re)enjoy this very influential animated joy ride and cherish its timeless message of hope. Packed with 20+ hours of animated goodness, Astro Boy The Complete 1980 TV Series on Blu-Ray ($94.66) is amazing value.

And no Xmas gift guide is complete without some handmade/indie creations from the Etsy store – check these out:

NES Cartridge punny wood coasters ($35.53)

Nіntendo Swіtch Animal Crossing  / Marіo Kart / Zelda keyrings ($8.50)

Game and Watch Display Stand ($11.50)

For those that have everything already, we bet they may not have a Hallmark Keepsake Christmas Ornament, like these Nintendo and Star Wars related decorations!

Well there you have it folks, hope we have inspired you for what gifts to hunt down for this Christmas holidays!

PLEASE NOTE: Prices are correct as at the time of publishing!



‘Darkman’ on Game Boy

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Every Soul Has A Dark Side!

By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

When I was a kid, I really enjoyed playing “Darkman” on my Nintendo Game Boy. I saw the Sam Raimi film in a theater, and when I saw that Game Boy was coming out with a game based on the movie, I had to have it.

The gameplay of “Darkman” on Game Boy was basically “Double Dragon” and “Double Dragon 2.” It was a simple multi-level game where you had to accomplish a different mission in each stage. In a lot of ways, “Darkman” was fun to me because I loved playing “Double Dragon.” The game does import many of the 1990 film’s highlights. The Raimi film was not a huge financial success, but now it has a bit of a cult following on physical media and streaming.

When teachers weren’t snatching my Game Boy out of my hands, I played the game at school. I would play “Darkman” on the school bus home. Sometimes, when I was really into the game, I would miss my stop. “Darkman” was one of my favorite games to play on my Game Boy. And there were a lot of film adaptations on Game Boy. Around that time, I also liked playing the “Hudson Hawk” film adaptation on my Game Boy.

I watched “Darkman” several days ago; I hadn’t watched it in years. I had forgotten how hooky some of the action sequences were. I still had a good time watching it again, but I was surprised by how much slapstick humor was in it. The cast is spectacular. Liam Neeson and Francis McDormand are terrific in the film. They’re so young. Larry Drake is excellent as Robert Durant, the ruthless mobster who leaves Peyton Westlake (who becomes Darkman) for dead. He overacts a little, but he’s very threatening and he has a short fuse. The film feels more like an old 1950s horror film than a comic book movie. Liam Neeson’s make-up as Darkman is gruesome and fantastic. It’s so good it’s distracting during some of the more dramatic scenes. But most of his face is covered with rags throughout the film, giving off an “Invisible Man” vibe.

I wonder if any gaming studio has ever considered making a new “Darkman” game. Sam Raimi would probably have to give his blessing for that. It could be thrilling if it’s a single-player game with an interesting narrative and cool villains.

image source: gamefabrique.com



Book Review – From Ants to Zombies: Six Decades of Video Game Horror

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Maniac killers? Vengeful ghosts? Science gone wrong? Discover the most gruesome, grueling and downright scary horror games from the 1970s till now in this horror-themed book!

Just in time for Halloween, Bitmap Books has unleashed their latest and scariest video gaming based book, From Ants to Zombies: Six Decades of Video Game Horror.

Let us introduce you to From Ants to Zombies, a spine-tingling journey through the captivating world of horror games that spans over six decades, from the funky 1970s to the heart-pounding 2020s. This book is definitely a thrilling rollercoaster ride across more than 70 different gaming platforms, from the vintage ZX Spectrum to the monstrous Xbox Series X.

From Ants to Zombies (FAtZ) has dug up the crypt and unearthed over 130 hair-raising horror video game titles that dissects and puts them into context for the reader. In this monstrous tome, the games are divided into thirteen delightfully eerie chapters, each with its own twisted theme. Whether you’re into rail shooters or open-world RPGs, whether you fancy exploring haunted mansions or venturing into infested space stations, or whether you prefer a slow, creeping existential dread or stomach-churning bursts of violence, FAtZ has you covered!

But that’s not all. FAtZ sprinkles some spine-chilling, exclusive commentary from legendary horror game developers like Keiichiro Toyama (the mastermind behind Silent Hill), Jane Jensen (the brains behind Gabriel Knight), Ken Levine (the genius behind System Shock 2), Sandy White (creator of Ant Attack), David Riordan (the spooky mind behind It Came from the Desert), Paul Norman (the man behind Forbidden Forest), Graeme Devine (the wicked genius behind The 7th Guest), and many more! These legends will give you a peek behind the curtain and share their sinister secrets (no spoilers here!).

From Ants to Zombies spans a whopping 600+ gorgeously illustrated pages, with a lovingly crafted hardback edition with a unique glow-in-the-dark logo and text – perfect for those late-night reading sessions. All the ghastly images are printed lithographically on high-quality paper to showcase the breathtaking visuals these games deserve. Plus, Bitmap Books has used thread-sewn binding for extra durability, so you can lay the book open flat while you dive into the darkest corners of gaming history.

For those of you that want your cake and eat it too, the book’s cover features a one-of-a-kind artwork created by the incredibly talented artist Vasilis Zikos – it’s an unholy marriage of art and horror, just like the games within.

From Ants to Zombies: Six Decades of Video Game Horror is your golden ticket to revisit the classics you love and discover hidden horror gems you may have overlooked. It’s a deep dive into the inexhaustible well of terror that six decades of video game history has to offer.

So, what are you waiting for? Dive into the world of horror gaming like never before and prepare for sleepless nights, heart-pounding scares, and the thrill of a lifetime!

From Ants to Zombies is a showcase for the remarkable range horror gaming has achieved across six decades, from the 1970s to the 2020s, on 70+ gaming platforms, from the ZX Spectrum to the Xbox Series X!

Book Specs:

  • Hardback
  • 664 pages
  • Edge-to-edge high quality lithographic print
  • Sewn binding – for enduring quality and the ability to lay flat for ideal double-page image viewing
  • Glow-in-the-dark logo and text on cover
  • Coloured bookmark ribbon
  • Weight: 2.5kg – it’s hefty!
  • Price: AU$79.99
  • Store: PixelCrib



Disclaimer: From Ants to Zombies: Six Decades of Video Game Horror book was kindly provided by PixelCrib for this review.

LIBERATION – The New Retro Space Adventure Game Is Available Now

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Unleash Chaos in Space!

Liberation is a retro space adventure inspired by the original 1984 version of Elite, and mashed up with classic UK science fiction such as The Tripods, Blake’s 7 and Doctor Who.

In this game, you pilot an elite stealth ship as you take your revenge against the evil Galactic Federation (GalFed)! Upgrade your ship with a variety of weapons and systems. Engage in high-stakes dogfights, dock with space stations and planet spaceports, and work with heroes and villains to destroy GalFed.

To make this game even sweeter, it was made in Australia (Frankston, VIC!) by Classyk Games, on Linux with Godot, using an open source stack including Blender, GIMP and InkScape. Liberation is available right now on Windows, Mac, Linux for Steam and coming soon to itch.


image source: Classyk Games



Hey Analogue, Forget The N64 3D FPGA Console, Just Get Our Old Orders To Us!

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With yesterday’s news about their next console, the Analogue 3D (a Nintendo 64 FPGA system), Analogue is once again betting that its customers will jump on board and will remain silent while waiting for their future promised system to be delivered at some indeterminate date – and there in lies the rub! No longer can we be excited about an Analogue system we have no idea when it will arrive!

Considering we have been loyal customers of Analogue, we do have to speak out about the length of time it takes to fulfill orders and their almost non-existent (or seldom) updates as you wait months (or years) for your paid-in-full order to be fulfilled. We speak from experience where our Analogue Pocket took 11 months from ordering to actually receiving it. Worse still, we ordered the Pocket (3 x) cartridge adapters pack last October (2022) and we are still waiting and have no idea if and when we will receive it – maybe Christmas, if we are lucky?!

We love our Analogue Pocket, but the wait for it was waaaaay to long!

Some will argue that Analogue only states rough timelines, like “shipping in Q3” or “coming in 2024”, however the issue we have is the lack of communication leading up to the point when they decide to actually ship items. As a customer, the expectation is that the retailer/supplier will keep you informed with regular updates, even if the items are late (due to whatever reason), we just want to know what is going on! The worst thing a company can do is remain silent and leave their customers in the dark – which Analogue does very well, unfortunately.

So, if you are in the market to order the Analogue 3D N64 system, be prepared for a long wait with absolute radio silence. Proceed with caution!

PS: We admit their products are great, but come on Analogue, please lift up your comms game (pun fully intended)!
PPS: Analogue does offer the buyer to cancel their order and get a refund, so that’s one positive, we guess.

Unfortunately, our Pocket Cartridge Adapter Pack is yet arrive 🙁
image source: Analogue